CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Long-standing rivals Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors will clash in the historic opening game, when the Hero Caribbean Premier League hosts matches on United States soil for the first time this year.
Lauderhill Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will play host to the night contest, carded for July 28, and which features the two finalists from the 2014 edition of the tournament.
Tridents emerged champions that year and were also good enough to return to the final last year before losing to Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel – renamed Trinbago Knight Riders for the upcoming season.
The game is one of six scheduled and CPL’s chief executive, Damien O’Donohoe said the move marked a new chapter in the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament.
“We are delighted to announce fixture information of the ground-breaking Florida leg of CPL which represents an exciting new chapter for the tournament,” said O’Donohoe.
“Supporters will have the opportunity to see all six teams in action twice over four action-packed days which will showcase some of the best West Indies and international talent on display.
“West Indies cricket is on a real high at the moment, with the success of the men’s, women’s and Under-19 World Cup winning squads generating a feel-good factor locally and internationally, and plans are well underway to deliver a top-class leg in the USA.”
Knight Riders will meet St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the second game on July 29 before double-headers highlight the weekend of July 30-31.
St Lucia Zouks take on Jamaica Tallawahs in a midday fixture on the Saturday before Tridents tackle Amazon Warriors again at 4 pm.
On the following day Sunday, Knight Riders and Patriots clash in the midday fixture while Jamaica Tallawahs take on Zouks at 4 pm.
CPL are yet to announce complete fixtures for the tournament.